My Mother

I have the most amazing mother. No seriously, I do. I know a lot of you are thinking that you have the most amazing mother too, but you don't unless you are my sister.

Not only is my mom super smart (she was salutatorian of her graduating class), but she is beautiful (and looks like she's 35!), and she is talented (she cooks, bakes, paints, sews, creates). Any of those things would make someone special, but the most special thing about my mother isn't any of those qualities; the most special thing about my mother is that she is selfless.

I didn't realize how much my mother did for me until I was a mother myself. When I was growing up, my mother (and father) worked herself to the bone to be able to put us in tap, ballet, jazz, and gymnastics. She was the adviser/sponsor of my little league cheer team so we would have someone to coach us. When I was in high school, my mother would take her lunch break during 7th period so she could come to ALL our pep rallys and watch us cheer. She spent her weekends all over the state of Alabama braiding the hair of my softball team at various tournaments and keeping the book for our team. She sat in snow and sleet and even extreme heat just to watch me, even if I was only riding the bench.

When I was a senior in high school I was accepted to the only school I wanted to go to, Auburn. A few months later I was accepted and received a full scholarship to the local university. I told my parents I'd go to the local school because it was free. My mom knew I didn't want to go there, and if it hadn't been for her and the many conversations she had with me about it, I never would have gone to Auburn. If I had not gone to Auburn, I would not be the person I am today and I would have never met my husband.

The summer after I graduated high school, my mother and sister spent the summer finding things to stock my apartment. My mother even searched high and low to find me the exact same bedding that I had in my room at home so I'd feel more comfortable. My parents moved me in and then my mother stocked my fridge and cabinets. When finals came around my first semester, my mother took off work and came and stayed with me to cook me good meals and clean my apartment so I could spend my time studying. When I started dating Anthony, she immediately took him in as if he was her own. My sophomore year of college I started having some health issues and she got me in with various doctors and then even came to stay with me when I was having some tests done. When I got engaged, she helped me plan an amazing wedding all while planning my sister's amazing (and completely different) wedding. She even made Anthony a cake shaped like Jordan-Hare Stadium.

When I told her I wanted to have a baby, she took me to Walmart and bought pregnancy tests and ovulation kits for me. When we moved, she came and helped me set up my first house. When I went into labor a month early with Ansleigh, she killed herself to get here and then stayed with me for a little over two weeks to help me recover and to cook and clean for me and learn how to be a mother. She even missed spending Christmas with my dad and sister and all the rest of our family because I needed her.

All of Ansleigh's life she has loved on her more than I thought any person possibly could. She makes sure she has the best of everything. She has been here for her for all the major things in her life and made sure she had the cutest clothes on while those things happened.

When I was pregnant with Addisyn, my mom came and helped me throw Ansleigh an amazing birthday party. Then, when I was put on bedrest, she called and checked on me everyday. She made my dad drive her down here one weekend to turn a guest room into a nursery for the baby. When Addisyn was born, she jumped in the car and got here as soon as she could and then took care of Ansleigh while I was in the hospital. When we came home from the hospital, she stayed with me for a week, cooking, cleaning, and entertaining Ansleigh while I recovered and spent time with my new baby. She even repaired one of Ansleigh's stuffed animals.

My mom does anything and everything for me and never tells me no and never ever tells Ansleigh no.

In fact, my mom overnighted a box of clothes to Ansleigh and Addisyn for us to take on our Disney trip.

No one has a mom as amazing as my mom. I didn't appreciate her when I was a teenager, but she means the world to me now and if I could live next door to her, I totally would. If I can be even 1/4 the mother she was/is to my girls, they will be blessed beyond measure. I hope I can be that kind of a mother to my girls and that they will grow up knowing just how much they are loved, the way I always have.

Taking Them a Meal

5 weeks ago I had a baby. 5 weeks prior to having a baby I was put on bedrest.

The people in our church have loved on us and blessed us beyond measure. Almost immediately after news was out that I was on bedrest, a list was started, people started signing up, and meals started being delivered. Not only did they bring meals, they came over and cleaned my house, helped me clean out the room that was going to be the nursery, and even took things to Goodwill for me.

One week after having the baby (family was here for a week to take care of us), the meals picked back up.

I totaled it up and we have had 8 weeks worth of meals delivered to us, 3 times a week. Again, I cannot stress what a blessing it has been to have this.

Now I'm a prideful person and really didn't want to let people help me, especially when I was on bedrest, but thankfully, these people know us and love us and wouldn't take no for an answer. I've always been honest on here so I need to tell you that for the past two years or so (since I started back to work), I've been terrible about bringing meals to people, even people I'm friends with. I didn't have time to cook for my own family, much less someone else's. After people taking such good care of us, I am ashamed of myself. I was always too busy or didn't have time or they lived "too far" from our house...you know, across town. Even when I did take a meal to someone, I did it terribly. One person I cooked two bags of one of those skillet meals (the frozen ones) to take. Another person I even took them two pans of Pizza Hut pasta. I don't think there is anything wrong with taking people already prepared meals, but I do think there was something wrong with my attitude and laziness regarding the situation. I am ashamed.

Never again will that happen. In fact, I've even made Hubs promise me he wouldn't let me make ANY excuse the next time someone needs a meal, or their house vacuumed, or their laundry folded.

With all these people bringing us meals, I had several moments when I thought, "What an awesome idea!" Because of this, I have decided to make a list of suggestions and ideas (mostly for myself) for the next time someone needs a meal. Feel free to use these yourself, share them with others, or even pin it if you feel like it is worthy of that. Please keep in mind, these are just things I saw when people brought us a meal and I wanted to remember the good ideas. This does not mean I wasn't INCREDIBLY grateful for anything and everything people brought us, but really it is just tips for myself for the future.

First of all, disposable containers are such a blessing. Don't get me wrong, people (myself included) will be extremely grateful for whatever you bring them, but it seems that everyone has the same kind of tupperware and it is really difficult to remember which container belongs to which person and there is the added bonus that the person doesn't have to worry about the clean up.

Second, speaking of dishes, throw in some paper plates and plastic utensils. We had so many people do this for us and it was such a blessing to be able to just throw everything away and be done with it.

Third, if you have time, put the recipe(s) with each container, so that when they LOVE what you brought them (they will!), they can store the recipe and make it at a later time for their family. Plus, the added bonus is that if they have any kind of allergy or are just curious about what all is in it, they have the list of ingredients at the tip of their fingers. This doesn't have to take a lot of time. If you got the recipe off pinterest, just print a copy of it and throw it in with the stuff you are bringing. If it is a family recipe (or one you just have on a recipe card), you can use your printer/copier/scanner (if you have one) and make a quick copy. The same thing would go if you got it out of a cook book, just make a copy.

Here is an adorable printable package you can get to go with the meal you are bringing: Gifting Dinner Printable Package

Another awesome idea is if the recipe makes a fairly large dish, use two smaller containers; one for now and one to freeze for later when the meals stop coming. On the frozen one, be sure to write what the dish is and the cooking instructions because it may be a while before they get to it and they might forget.I still have probably two weeks worth of meals in my freezer thanks to our amazing church family.

If you bring a salad, throw in a bottle of dressing too. They may have their own favorite that they'd prefer to use, but they might not have any dressing on hand, or in our case, what they have might have expired in 2007...LOL.

If you know the mom is nursing, feel free to bring a higher calorie meal. If the mom is bottle-feeding, you might want to skip bringing something slathered in mayonaise or grease. We never had an issue with this and I wouldn't have turned ANYTHING away, but it is a nice idea to remember. We had several people ask if we wanted something a little healthier or if it mattered and to me, at that point, food was food and as long as it wasn't McDonald's, I'd gladly eat it.

People usually bring a main dish, some sort of veggie (usually a salad), and a dessert (cookies, brownies, or my favorite-rice krispy treats). A couple of people were so thoughtful and also included something we/I could have for breakfast. Now this doesn't mean you also have to throw together a breakfast casserole along with all the other stuff you are cooking. Our Pastor's wife brought us a bag of bagels, a thing of cream cheese, and some fresh fruit. Several other people brought us muffins of various varieties. It doesn't need to be anything difficult.

We even had several people bring us a gallon of tea. Now, with us being as southern as we are, we were overjoyed to have tea delivered to us. Now, not to brag, but I make some almost perfect sweet tea, so I think I would just make some and throw it in a jug to take over instead of buying some at Publix, but if you are in a hurry, some from the supermarket would work just fine, especially if you live where you can buy a gallon of Milo's sweet tea.

Also, most people have gone to using takethemameal.com . If your group/person is using this site, go look at what the others who are signed up for that week are bringing. Now often, it will say TBD (to be determined) but if the other people for that week are all bringing chicken, maybe you should make something with beef or pork. Again, they will be so thankful for whatever you bring, but it is something to consider.

If you are taking a gift for the baby (which is not necessary) and there is an older sibling, you might consider taking something small for the sibling too. So many people were so sweet to include our Ansleigh. It doesn't have to be anything big or flashy--just something to show that you remember the other kid exists too.

Second (and third) time moms, often have a little bit of an easier time than first time moms. I think it has something to do with knowing what to expect and having a little experience. But just because they already have one child, doesn't mean they don't need help. I am learning that with two, there is a fine balance in making sure both kids have what they need, are taken care of, and are both getting plenty of your attention.

If you are going to have a little bit of extra time, ask the mom if there is anything you can do to help around the house. Most of us don't want to clean our own house, much less someone else's house, but it doesn't take long to wipe down the counters for them or run the vacuum over the main living space. I would NEVER have asked anyone to clean my house for me, and even when they asked, I often said there was nothing to do, but I was blessed just by the offer. Plus, most people that wanted to clean for me knew me and knew I would say no so they just came in and washed the dishes in the sink really quickly or grabbed a Clorox wipe and wiped down the counters.

Everyone, even stay-at-home moms (who sometimes have a little more time to cook), are busy. Sometimes taking someone a meal can seem like a lot of work that we often don't have the time for. If you can plan ahead for a few of these little extra things, it might make it easier to do a little more. And a lot of people need to bring the kids with them when they drop the meal off so don't feel bad if you can't clean up for them. No one expects someone to bring them a meal and clean their house, but it can be an added blessing so if you can plan ahead to maybe have the hubs watch the kids, you might have time for it. Or, bring the whole family along. We LOVED it when the doorbell rang and the whole family was there for a quick visit. I'd have people stay hours if they could have so they company was a wonderful blessing as well.

If you really do not have time, or are going to be out of town, or there is some other reason why you can't help out, grab a gift card to a local restaurant and put it in the mail for them. We got a couple of gift cards and are using them now. It is awesome to be able to get out of the house for a meal and not have to pay (or not have to pay as much).

Hopefully you will enjoy these tips and someone will be as blessed as we have been, and hopefully, I'll be able to return the blessing to someone soon.

Confessions From a Mom on Bed Rest

Last week I went into preterm labor. I knew from the beginning of this pregnancy that I would. I just knew in my gut that I would although I didn't think it would be at 33 weeks.

I was dilated 2 centimeters and having contractions every 3-4 minutes. My doctor got the contractions stopped, gave me two awesomely painful shots in the butt to speed up the development of Addisyn's lungs, and send me home on bed rest until I go into labor again.

Secretly, some parts of bed rest are awesome. No more alarms in the morning, you can wear pajamas (or clothes that might as well be pajamas) all day, you can catch up on all those books you've been meaning to read, make good use of your netflix account, etc.

But I'm starting to discover that there are other parts of bed rest that frankly, just blow. For example, I'm sitting here with a list of 82 things I need/want to do right now and even though I'm on bed rest, I could do some of them (nobody would know!) and then I picture my sweet baby girl too scrawny, with tubes and wires attached to her, with an IV in her head all because I wanted to check off a few things on my ever-growing list of things to do.

Or explaining to your 4-year-old for the 8th time that Mommy can't do this or Mommy can't do that because Mommy needs to keep Addisyn in her tummy a little longer.

Or watching your exhausted husband come home from a long day at work, take care of your over-energized kid, figure out dinner, and then do all the other things, like taking said child to birthday parties and church and dance class, buying groceries, and running errands that need to be done because you can't do any of it. I'd suggest a support group for the husbands, but then they'd be too busy to receive any of the support.

Also, add in the paranoia that every little back pain, gas bubble, or normal contraction throws you into complete panic. "Am I in labor? Is this labor? No, it can't be. Is it? It really doesn't need to be. Should I call the doctor? Go straight to the hospital? Wait it out?"

Plus, there are only so many decent movies to watch on instant watch, only so much daytime tv one person can reasonably tolerate, and only so much sitting/laying that one can do before your butt really hurts.

I'm not trying to complain. Trust me. I know I am blessed each extra day she has in here to get a little bigger and a little stronger because there are babies that don't have those extra days, but the fact is, I'm on bed rest and sometimes, it sucks.

We've been so blessed with so many people offering to help. At the same time, it is so difficult to tell somebody, "Yes! I'd love to watch you come clean up the mess I've been avoiding while I sit on my butt and watch you." Or "Yes! I'd love for you to bring us dinner because I've neglected buying groceries to make meals for months." But the fact is, I may have avoided the mess or neglected the groceries but that doesn't make the need for it now any less and I certainly can't do any of it. Poor hubs, he's trying. He doesn't like accepting help from people when he is capable of doing it either, but I'm afraid I'm running him ragged. I mean, how is he supposed to get anything done when I keep sending him to get me ice that I can eat?

So here you have it, some thoughts from a crazy pregnant lady that has been benched for the rest of the game.

I have an idea...

I keep seeing all these things for a hospital survival kit for moms and a hospital survival kit for dads but I've yet to see anything for sweet little siblings.

I've been talking a lot lately to a good friend of mine who is also pregnant and due just two days before me. She has a daughter about Ansleigh's age and we both want to do something for the girls so they don't feel left out of this momentous occasion.

Therefore, I've decided to do a "Big Sister Gift Bag" or a "New Arrival Present" or something like that. I don't know what to call it. Do you have any ideas?

I know I'm going to get her some little books about being a big sister and put a big sister shirt in there. Maybe a coloring book and a box of crayons for times of boredom. A special snack and juice box? A Barbie/Little Sister combo? I'm still (OBVIOUSLY) developing this idea but I want it to be great. I want her to feel loved while I'm busy pushing a large object out of a very small place.



What would you put in there for your older child?

My mom said she's going to bring Ansleigh a present for her that she can use for her baby (she's getting a Bitty Baby from Lolli & Pop Pop for Christmas.Shhh...don't tell.) like a bottle and a sleeper or something. My mom is a genius. Really, she is.

Random Journaling

Random Journaling

I found some templates for daily journaling that I plan on using with my students this year but I thought it would be fun to test them out.

Three animals that I often see around my neighborhood:

1. A mostly black cat with some white on it. Ansleigh says she wants it to be her kitty and has named it Izzy. It is terrified of us but loves our front porch.

2. My neighbor’s scanky dogs. They are disgusting and mean and bark all the time and poop in my yard.

3. Red Birds which remind me of my great-grandmother. I miss her terribly. She was such an awesome old lady and she would adore Ansleigh.

Right now it is summer.

The best things to eat at this time of the year: watermelon, pineapple, fresh steamed veggies, and seafood.

A few of the things I do only at this time of the year: get a tan, catch up on my sleep, and work on projects around the house. I never have time to do any of this during the school year.

To Do:

One stuffy, dull, administrative-type thing: lesson plans

One marginally interesting thing: working on getting together stuff for my classroom (supplies/decorations/etc.)

One exciting thing (that I will think about while doing the other two things): Ansleigh’s birthday party!!!!!

These are the things that matter:

In my life:

· My faith

· My child

· My family (including the husband)

· My team and my students—knowing that I am making a difference

· Auburn—can’t wait to visit in October!!!!

· Pinterest. I have a problem.

Out there in the world:

· Sweet children who need good homes

· People who are going hungry and without homes

· The environment

Lightning Round:

Dishwasher or hand wash? Dishwasher—I HATE WASHING DISHES!!!

Mini-golf or bowling? I love mini-golf but I also like to go bowling

Drive-in movie or DVD at home? I’ve never been to the drive-in. I’m a loser, I know.

Road trip or ocean cruise? I hate long trips in cars (have to take anxiety meds) so definitely ocean cruise

Burger and fries or fish and chips? Burger and fries! What kind of weirdo would eat fish and chips?

T-shirt or tank top? T-shirt, preferably an Auburn one

Hoodie or cardigan? Hoodie

Moonlight or candle light? moon

Jogging around the track or down the street? Down the street

Hair: blow dry or air dry? Looks better when I blow it dry but I always air dry it b/c I’m lazy.

Slippers or thick socks? Thick socks

Nose ring or toe ring? Nose

Rainbow or shooting star? Rainbow b/c that means my yard probably just got watered for free!

Paperwork or housework? Paperwork any day!

To find this and more like it, visit www.graceisoverrated.com.

These are my Confessions...

1. The compulsive part of me is really struggling right now because I'm writing these and it isn't a Friday.
   
2. The sane part of me thinks, "Who cares? Nobody is going to remember I used to do these every Friday anyway."
3. Summer has made me extremely productive and also extremely lazy. I've gotten a lot done for Ansleigh's party and a lot done this week for the upcoming school year, but I also have been watching tv all day while I do these things.
4. I've been Keeping up with the Kardashians. I know. You might as well kill me now but I'm hooked. In about a weeks' time length I watched 30+ episodes of Keeping up with the Kardashians AND the whole season of Kourtney and Khole Take Miami.
   
5. I'm such a sucker for celebrity-filmed lives. I need an intervention.
6. Kourtney, Khole, and Kris did an intervention for Kim. But that was for shopping.
   
7. I've also become OBSESSED with a website my sister and mom told me about. Pinterest. When I first saw it, I was like, um...what is this thing? Basically it is like an online version of all your favorite magazine clippings, but when you click on them, it takes you to the websites. You create your own "boards" and then "pin" things to them. It is awesome. It has wonderful ideas for birthday parties, awesome clothes, incredible recipes, and tons of pictures of things to go in the house I"ll never be rich enough to own.
   
8. Also, I'm such a fame whore because I'm obsessed with having people follow my boards. Every time I get an email saying I have new followers, I feel giddy.
   
9. Those people may or may not be following me because I followed them first. You know, tracked them down by searching for things I like and then stalking all their boards.
   
10. I found out today that I'm teaching 11th grade Honors English next year and a class of seniors.
    
11. I've always dreamed of teaching seniors. Always. I mean, who wouldn't want to help them learn how to write essays for college, create resumes, fill out college applications, all the while witnessing that senior excitement?
12. Once school starts, I will have officially taught all grades 7-12. That is CRAZY to me. I taught 7th & 8th, then 7th, then 10th, then 9th and 10th, and now 11th and 12th.
    
13. We just got back from vacation. It is amazing how having an AWESOME tan makes you feel so much better about yourself. I wonder if I'll still be so happy about my tan when I have skin that looks like beef jerky? Probably. I'll be tan beef jerky. Because that's hot.
14. If you have been wondering why you are missing your usual zits you find, it is because they've changed zip codes and have made a permanent residence on MY FACE.
15. I tried to count them all, but I lost count.
    
16. One day, I'm going to own a children's clothing store. It's going to be called Friday Afternoon. My first location will be right next door to a Tuesday Morning. I'm going to sell all the stuff my mom makes and brands I want for my child but can't afford so I can get wholesale discounts on all her clothes.
17. I'm not kidding.

My Newest Project

Since I'm home for the summer, I have a list of things I want to get accomplished around the house because we all know I don't have any time for stuff like that during the school year. Most of these things are home organization projects (moving the bookshelf from the guest room to our room, painting it to resemble cherry wood so it matches our furniture, reorganizing our closet, reorganizing the linen closet, etc.). The project I'm most excited about is Ansleigh's 4th Birthday.

Did you just re-read that last sentence? If so, you're right to think twice about it. Ansleigh's birthday isn't until December. Aside from her 1st birthday (which was mostly just for me), we have successfully avoided a party. Now that she's in preschool, she's been invited to several parties and now she wants one of her own. She made up her mind and she's not changing it....she wants a party and more importantly, she wants a Rapunzel party.

If you know me at all, you know if I'm going to do something like this, it has to be awesome or I can't be a part of it. Since this means a lot to my girl, I'm putting my all into it.

I've been researching Tangled party ideas, checking Etsy for all kinds of cute handmade stuff. I've come up with a great plan for an AWESOME party for my girl, but I've got my work cut out for me and I won't have time to do it when it comes time for her party so I'm going to do as much of it now as I can so I won't have to when December gets here.

As I make progress, I'll try and update but I've got some great plans.

Of course we'll have the Rapunzel plates and napkins.

We're also going to hang paper lanterns in the sun porch (where the party will be). I'm definitely going to use yellow and purple ones but I might throw some pink ones in too.

The goody bags are going to be so awesome! Rapunzel loves to paint so we're giving out mini easels, mini canvases, and a paint set. :) I'm going to put them in purple tinted clear goody bags and tie them up with a little yellow yarn braid :) They will be finished off with these sweet little tags that say thank you.


We're also going to have a candy bar...more on that later but these sweet kids will get to put their candy stash in these little bags
For the food, Lolli (my mom) is making a tower cake similar to this one but we're making it with donuts instead of pecan rolls and it will be WAY cuter if I know my mom at all.
This will just be mostly for looks, and we will serve cupcakes with these cute little toppers on them.
We'll also serve Jello boats but instead of flags like the ones pictured, I'm ordering the other ones (below) that are pictured.
I will also be serving breads, fruit, and little sandwiches or pub grub.

The invitations will be very similar to this:We're also hanging up a banner like this:
and there will be another one (more to come on that later too) that will go on the candy bar.

This is going to go on the bottom of the mailbox so people know they've arrived (we'll also have some balloons tied up)
And the front door will be covered with a braid similar to this one:

I'm going to use these picks (they will only be Rapunzel clothes and Flynn Ryder clothes) to put into the fruit and sandwiches for decoration

I'm going to *attempt* to make a sign (probably out of cardboard or poster board) to hang above the food table that looks like this Snuggly Duckling one from the movie with something under it that says "Pub Grub."
The kids are going to make their own Pascal Party Blowers that look like this:
And we're going to play "Pin the Frying Pan on Flynn Ryder"
Best of all, we're going to send the kids off with a lit lantern send-off. Anthony is excited about this part because it involves fire. Only grown ups will be able to fly them and bring them back to the ground.

And I may have a few other secrets up my sleeve :) You'll just have to stay tuned.

And I must mention that I got several of these great ideas from the Disney website and from this awesome mom who blogs...check her out http://www.supermommoments.com

I also found lots of things on my trusty Amazon.com and on Etsy.com.

Do you have any good ideas I could use?